Ink-jet printer and maintenance method for ink-jet printer

Abstract

Ink consumption amount is calculated based on an ink amount which is used for recording and periodic preparatory jetting in a predetermined time period after a previous discharge operation. An ink of an ink amount obtained by subtracting a consumption amount for the predetermined time, from an ink capacity of an ink supply system which supplies the ink from an ink cartridge to a recording head, is discharged by a discharge mechanism. Accordingly, it is possible to maintain a favorable state of ink by replacing periodically the ink in the ink supply system without a wasteful consumption. Moreover, when the amount of ink consumed in the predetermined time period is same as or more than the ink capacity of the ink supply system, the discharge operation is not carried out. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the consumption of ink due to the discharge operation.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]The present application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-338445, filed on Dec. 15, 2006, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention relates to an ink-jet printer, or an ink-jet printer as an outputting apparatus such as a facsimile, an image processing apparatus, or an image recording apparatus, and a maintenance method for the ink-jet printer.[0004]2. Description of the Related Art[0005]In an ink-jet printer, in which an ink is supplied to a recording head from an ink supply source such as an ink tank, and a recording is carried out by jetting the ink from the recording head, when the ink stays for a long time in an ink supply system from the ink supply source up to the recording head, a moisture of the ink inside an ink supply path is evaporated. Moreover, due to entering of air into the ink supp...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides an ink-jet printer that can maintain the ink by replacing it at fixed intervals without wasting ink inside the system. The printer includes a discharge mechanism that discharges ink at a different timing than the ink is jetted onto the recording medium. A timer measures the elapsed time after the ink is discharged and a consumption amount calculating section calculates the amount of ink consumed after the discharge. A discharge amount determining section determines the amount of ink needed for the recording based on the consumption amount and the amount of ink stored in the system. The printer can also divide the predetermined time period into multiple parts to avoid blocking nozzles. The invention also includes a storage section that stores the predetermined amount of ink necessary for recording and a counter to count the number of recording media on which recording has been performed. This reduces the memory capacity needed. Overall, the invention provides a more efficient and effective ink-jet printer.

Problems solved by technology

Therefore, ink which is not required to be replaced, in other words, an amount of ink consumed by printing, a preparatory jetting (flushing) along with the printing, or the like, is discharged wastefully.

Moreover, when the ink is supplied to the recording head via a flexible tube etc., since the ink inside the tube is also required to be replaced, the amount of ink to be discharged becomes large.

However, in the ink-jet printer described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 10-337881, for calculating an amount of ink to be discharged, it is necessary to memorize the number of dots used at the time of actual recording, and a large memory capacity is required.

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